Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
Encyclopedia
Mansfield Motorsports Park (known as Mansfield Motorsports Speedway prior to 2007) is a half-mile oval racetrack located in Mansfield
, Ohio
, United States
. Featuring moderately high banks and a wide racing surface, it is suitable for close racing and passing. The track hosts an ARCA
RE/MAX Series
race in 2009. It also hosted the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series from 2004 to 2008.
Camping World Truck Series (formerly Craftsman Truck Series
), which raced at Mansfield on Memorial Day
weekend since 2004. Mansfield was the shortest track on the Camping World Truck Series schedule and was the only track in the United States to be on the Camping World Truck Series schedule as well as being Dodge Weekly Series sanctioned. This ended in 2007 when the weekly race program at the track was discontinued.
In addition, Mansfield hosted two annual rounds of the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
as well as the NASCAR Camping World East Series and Whelen Modified Tour
, the ASA Late Model Series
, ISMA and MSA Supermodifieds and HOSS sprint car
s.
The facility received a safety upgrade in 2006 when SAFER barrier
s were installed in the turns.
During pre-race ceremonies, a custom at the track was to play the Godsmack
song, "Awake", over the public address system as backing music for driver introductions. This is likely a nod to the video for this song which was filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory
, also located in Mansfield. In December 2008, it was announced that Mansfield Motorsports Park will give up its future Camping World Truck Series race, and close its doors. The Camping World Truck Series race date was moved to Iowa Speedway
.
During early 2009, Music City Motorplex
authorities announced a new promoter for the Nashville 0.596 mile (0.95916664 km) speedway, who chose to remove all "upper level" touring series races (NASCAR and ARCA) and decided not to renew its NASCAR sanction. Track officials were contacted by former Nashville promoter Joseph Mattioli III about having their major touring series races moved to Mansfield. In February 2009, the track replaced Nashville on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour, with the Tim Richmond
Memorial ARCA Re/Max 200 scheduled to be held on June 20, 2009.
At the Summer Firestorm on Labor Day weekend it was hinted by the announcer that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event would return in 2010 along with weekly racing, NASCAR has since announced the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule and Mansfield is not on the schedule. No further details or dates were announced.
(located roughly 35 miles (56.3 km) north in Norwalk
) to discontinue their affiliation with the IHRA
and join the NHRA
. It was intended to have Mansfield replace Norwalk as the venue for the IHRA World Nationals by 2007 and to host a Live Nation
IHRA
eMax Nitro Jam event as part of the drag strip's opening festivities.
The opening date for the drag strip has been revised several times. The Nitro Jam event was announced in September 2006 but on March 2, 2007 the track issued a press release moving the IHRA World Nationals from its previously announced June date to September, bumping a previously scheduled Pro-Am Tour event on that date to 2008.
As of September 2008, no opening date has been announced for the drag strip.
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Featuring moderately high banks and a wide racing surface, it is suitable for close racing and passing. The track hosts an ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
race in 2009. It also hosted the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series from 2004 to 2008.
Former events
Mansfield formerly hosted a wide variety of events, most notably the NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series (formerly Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
), which raced at Mansfield on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend since 2004. Mansfield was the shortest track on the Camping World Truck Series schedule and was the only track in the United States to be on the Camping World Truck Series schedule as well as being Dodge Weekly Series sanctioned. This ended in 2007 when the weekly race program at the track was discontinued.
In addition, Mansfield hosted two annual rounds of the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
CARS Pro Cup Series is a stock car auto racing series in the United States. It is sanctioned by the Championship Auto Racing Series. The series races throughout the United States primarily on short tracks.-History:The sanctioning body was formed by Hooters owner Robert Brooks...
as well as the NASCAR Camping World East Series and Whelen Modified Tour
Whelen Modified Tour
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR in the Modified division. The Modified division is NASCAR's oldest division, and its one of two open-wheeled divisions...
, the ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
, ISMA and MSA Supermodifieds and HOSS sprint car
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
s.
The facility received a safety upgrade in 2006 when SAFER barrier
SAFER barrier
The Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier, sometimes called a soft wall, is a technology found primarily on oval automobile race tracks and intended to make racing accidents safer...
s were installed in the turns.
During pre-race ceremonies, a custom at the track was to play the Godsmack
Godsmack
Godsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin...
song, "Awake", over the public address system as backing music for driver introductions. This is likely a nod to the video for this song which was filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory
Ohio State Reformatory
The Ohio State Reformatory , also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, is a historic prison located in Mansfield, Ohio in the United States. It was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation until a 1990 federal court ruling ordered the facility to be closed...
, also located in Mansfield. In December 2008, it was announced that Mansfield Motorsports Park will give up its future Camping World Truck Series race, and close its doors. The Camping World Truck Series race date was moved to Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond International Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful...
.
During early 2009, Music City Motorplex
Music City Motorplex
Fairgrounds Speedway is a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racetrack located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds near downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The track is one of the oldest tracks in the United States. The track held NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup races from 1958 to 1984...
authorities announced a new promoter for the Nashville 0.596 mile (0.95916664 km) speedway, who chose to remove all "upper level" touring series races (NASCAR and ARCA) and decided not to renew its NASCAR sanction. Track officials were contacted by former Nashville promoter Joseph Mattioli III about having their major touring series races moved to Mansfield. In February 2009, the track replaced Nashville on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour, with the Tim Richmond
Tim Richmond
Tim Richmond was an American race car driver from Ashland, Ohio. He competed in IndyCar racing before transferring to NASCAR's Winston Cup Series . Richmond was one of the first drivers to change from open wheel racing to NASCAR stock cars full-time, which has since become an industry trend...
Memorial ARCA Re/Max 200 scheduled to be held on June 20, 2009.
At the Summer Firestorm on Labor Day weekend it was hinted by the announcer that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event would return in 2010 along with weekly racing, NASCAR has since announced the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule and Mansfield is not on the schedule. No further details or dates were announced.
Drag strip
A drag strip has been planned for the facility since 2006, following the decision by Summit Motorsports ParkSummit Motorsports Park
Summit Motorsports Park, formerly Norwalk Raceway Park and Norwalk Dragway, is a drag racing facility located on State Route 18 near Norwalk, Ohio...
(located roughly 35 miles (56.3 km) north in Norwalk
Norwalk, Ohio
At the 2000 census, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.3 per square mile . There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile...
) to discontinue their affiliation with the IHRA
International Hot Rod Association
The International Hot Rod Association, also known as IHRA, is the 2nd largest drag racing sanctioning body after the NHRA.-The Carrier Era:The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larry Carrier. Throughout this period the organization was operated primarily in the south-eastern United...
and join the NHRA
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
. It was intended to have Mansfield replace Norwalk as the venue for the IHRA World Nationals by 2007 and to host a Live Nation
Live Nation
Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....
IHRA
IHRA
IHRA may refer to:*International Human Rights Administration*International Hot Rod Association*International Hotel & Restaurant Association*International Human Rights Association*International Harm Reduction Association*Illinois Human Rights Act...
eMax Nitro Jam event as part of the drag strip's opening festivities.
The opening date for the drag strip has been revised several times. The Nitro Jam event was announced in September 2006 but on March 2, 2007 the track issued a press release moving the IHRA World Nationals from its previously announced June date to September, bumping a previously scheduled Pro-Am Tour event on that date to 2008.
As of September 2008, no opening date has been announced for the drag strip.
Track NASCAR Records
- NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck SeriesThe NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
Qualifying: Ron Hornaday Jr., 16.277 sec. (110.585 mph), 2005 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck SeriesThe NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
Race: Bobby HamiltonBobby HamiltonCharles Robert Hamilton, Sr. was a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit and the winner of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Hamilton owned Bobby Hamilton Racing, which fielded three entries in each NCWTS event...
, 1 hr. 55 min. 37 sec. (65.907 mph), 2005 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck SeriesThe NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
race record for most caution flags: 18 (2006)